Circuit-breaker indicating device



C. F. KETTERING. CIRCUIT BREAKER INDICATING DEVICE.

APPLICATEON FILED MAY 29, 1916- Patented APE-6, 1920.

tit)

UNITED STAES ATENT .onFIoE.

CHARLES F. KETTERING, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAYTON ENGINEERING LABORATORIES COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF GHIO.

"cmcurr-nananna nvnrca'rrne :onvrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1921).

Application filed. May 29, 1916. Serial No. 100,547.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES l KETTER- ING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Breaker Indicating Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to improvements in circuit-breaker indicating devices for use with electrical systems, and is adapted to indicate the existence in said circuit of an abnormal flow of current.

One of the objects of the present improvements is to provide a circuit breaker which includes provisions for retarding the operation of the circuit breaker in such manner 'as to provide a clear and unmistakable signal to indicate to the operator that abnormal conditions exist in the circuit and at the same time prevent the waste of current.

The devices herein described constitute another mode of accomplishing some of the .results set forth in my co-pending application, Serial Number 857,64 filed August 20, 1914:.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an electrical system, wherein the present improvements are included.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the circuit breaker diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1. I

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an electrical system which includes an electric ma chine 20, which is operable as a generator. This machine has a main line circuit connection with the storage battery or accumulator 21, which is adapted to "be connected for charging and other purposes with the generator by means of any suitable switch element 22.

lt-will be understood that this switch element maybe of any manual type or it may be automatic in action, as is well known in the present art.

The main work circuit, or the circuit which will be referred to hereinafter as the main circuit, is connected to the opposite sides of the battery, and includes the line wire 24 and the ground-25. This main circuit includes the lighting apparatus 26. These lighting devices may be arranged in any combination whatever and these combinations may be controlled by suitable switches, diagrammatically shown at 28.

. While the main work circuit has been described as including the lighting apparatus 26, it will be obvious that this work circuit may include any desirable work devices, such as ignition apparatus and signals.

In this type of system, which is especially adaptable for installation on vehicles to furnish power for lighting purposes, etc., it is important to provide means which will prevent the destruction or serious injury of the battery in case short circuits occur.

Therefore, in order to protect the battery against the destructive effect of short circuits, th re is utilized in the present invention a circuit breaking indicating device which is associated with the main circuit in such a manner that whenever an abnormal flow of current occurs in said circuit, this circuit breaking device will be brought into operation to notify or indicate to the operator the presence of abnormal conditions in said circuit, and also at the same time will cut down the iiow of current through the circuit to such an extent as to prevent waste of current.

in order to more clearly indicate to the operator the presence of abnormal conditions in the work circuit, and also to effect a further saving of the current, this circuit breaking device includes provisions for delaying or retarding the operation of the device in such a manner as to have a relatively prolonged interval between the successive operations of breaking and making the work circuit.

The effect-of this retarding or delaying action will be tov create a clear and effective signaling device for the operator, and will also operate to cut down the flow of current through the work circuit.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that this circuit breaker includes a frame 30, having the core 31 securely mounted thereon. This core is surrounded by a metallic tube or sleeve 32, which is preferably of relatively low resistance material, such as copper or brass. It is this metallic sleeve which tends to retard the operation of the circuit breaking device, as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

A current coil 34 is mounted upon the sleeve 32, this coil being connected directly in series with the mainwork circuit, as at 40 and 41, as will be clearly understood by referring to Fig. 1.

This circuit breaking device also includes an armature 35, which is pivoted to the frame 30, as at 36. This armature comprises the movable element of the circuit breaking device, and tends to effect the making and breaking of the main circuit, at such times as abnormal conditions are present in this circuit.

One end of this armature lies in proximity to the core 31, but is normally spaced apart therefrom a determined degree by means of the spring 37. The opposite end of the armature 35 underlies the contact element 38, which is securely mounted on the frame 30. This contact element normally engages with the stationary contact point 39, see Figs. 2 and 3.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the respective contact elements 38-and 39 are connected in the main circuit at the points 42 and 4:3. 7

In order to facilitate-the manufacture and assembling of the circuit breaking device, the frame 30 of the circuit breaker is provided with an opening as at 44, through which the contact element. 39 extends. This element or point is mounted within the insulating plate 45, see 'Fig. 3, which also forms a mounting for the conductive strip 46, which in turn is connected with one terminal of the coil 34.-

By referring to Fig. 1, there is shown in dotted lines for purposes of illustration, a foreign element 50 placed in such position relative to the work circuit that a dead short across said circuit results. As soon as this short circuit is created, there will be a tendency for an abnormal flow of current to pass from the battery through the work circuit, which would ordinarily result in injuring the battery.

However, as soon as this rush of current passes through the main coil 34, of the circuit breaker, the core 31 becomes so ener- I to again draw the armature back to its nor mal home position, at which time the work circuit will again be established.

In the present improvements, the demagnetization of the core 31 is delayed or retarded by the effect of the copper sleeve or jacket 32, which, as has been described heretofore, surrounds the iron core 31. This retardation or delay of the demagnetization of the core is effected by the electrical ef fect which is set up in the closed metallic circuit formed by this sleeve.

The effect of this delay of demagnetization of the core 31 tend to hold the armature in its attracted position even after the main circuit has been broken, so that it may be said that the magnetic effect of the core 31 is prolonged sufficiently to make the successive vibratory movements of the armature clear and distinct, and also save current.

From the above it will be obvious that if the work circuit is broken and made successively, but with a comparatively prolonged interval between each of the successive breaks of said circuit, the flashing of the lights will be clearly apparent to the operator, provided the resultant current is enough to light them, and the clicking or buzzing of the circuit breaker Will also tend to audibly indicate its operation to the operator.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes a-preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a circuit-breaker indicating device, the combination with a main circuit including a circuit-breaker coil wound upon a core; of a movable element operated by the magnetic effect of said core to intermittently break the main circuit when an abnormal flow of current passes through said circuitbreaker coil; and means excluded from said main circuit for prolonging the magnetic effect of the core after the main circuit is broken by the movable element, whereby the movement of this element to its normal position to close the main circuit connection will be retarded.

2. In a circuit-breakerindicating device, the combination with a main circuit including a circuit-breaker coil wound upon a core; of a movable element operated by the magnetic effect of said core to intermittently break the main circuit when an abnormal flow of current passes through said circuitbreaker coil; and a damping element interposed between the coil and the core.

3. In a circuit-breaker indicating device,

the combination with a main circuit including a circuit-breaker coil wound upon a core; of a movable element operated by the magnetic effect of said core to intermittently break the main circuit when an abnormal flow of current passes through said circuitbreaker coil; and a copper element surrounding said core for retarding the return of the movable element to its normal position to close the circuit connections.

, 4. In a circuit breaker indicating device, the combination with a mam clrcuit oi make-and-break contacts and a circuit breaker coil in series therewith; a core sursaid core, and adapted to separate said contacts when moved toward the core; a spring for restoring said armature; and a copper sleeve surrounding said core for retarding the restoration of the armature.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two subscribing wit- 20 nesses.

CHARLES F. KETTERING.

Witnesses:

J. W. MCDONALD, O. D. MOWRY. 

